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Street scene in Beijing (in December 2022)

Photo: Ng Han Guan / AP

China wants to allow tourists and business people from Germany and other countries into the country without a visa in the future. From 1 December, the visa requirement will be abolished for one year, a spokesman for the Foreign Ministry announced in Beijing on Friday.

This means that in future it will be sufficient to be in possession of a passport that is valid for at least six months on arrival in order to travel to the People's Republic. However, this does not apply indefinitely, but only for a maximum stay of 15 days. The new regulation would also apply to citizens of France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia. The world's second-largest economy hopes that this will boost tourism, which has still not fully recovered from the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. China had largely sealed itself off for about three years.

"This decision will make it easier for many German citizens to travel to China to an unprecedented extent," the German ambassador to China, Patricia Flor, wrote on the short message service X. "We hope that the Chinese government will implement the measures announced today for all EU member states." Visa-free travel to Germany is only possible for Chinese nationals if all members of the European Schengen Agreement agree.

Easier maintenance of German machines

The German economy hopes that the new regulation will boost relations with its most important trading partner by far. "The recently announced lifting of the visa requirement for short trips is an important signal that can boost both tourism and economic exchange," said Volker Treier, head of foreign trade at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). »Above all, the regulation facilitates the maintenance of German machines, the assurance of quality ›made in Germany‹, entrepreneurial exchange and the maintenance of interpersonal contacts.« The companies are now hoping that the Chinese visa requirement for German citizens will be completely lifted after the initial test phase.

The temporary visa waiver will apply to both business and tourist trips or visits to friends and relatives, as well as to those passing through. China has already taken other steps in recent months to revive its tourism industry, such as the resumption of international air routes.

The government in Beijing is also striving to improve its image in the world. A Pew Research Center survey of 24 countries found that views of China are largely negative, with 67 percent of adults expressing disapproval of the country. More than half of the respondents said that China interferes in the affairs of other countries and has no regard for the interests of third parties.

beb/Reuters